We’ve all felt the chill with the cold spell over the last few days which saw temperatures plummet. We seem to have had it all with extreme weather conditions as Storm Bert caused havoc, unleashing heavy rain, strong winds, and even snow across the UK, causing traffic chaos and flooding in many areas.
As we all ramp up the heating in our homes, it's important to be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning so you and your household are kept safe and not put at risk. And whilst we’re all feeling the pinch with the cost-of-living crisis, it’s crucial not to cut corners when it comes to keeping your family safe – after all the safety and wellbeing of our families is always a top priority.
Last week was carbon monoxide awareness month, a campaign to raise awareness and help people stay fuel-safe this winter. According to the campaign, over 200 people are hospitalised with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning each year, leading to around 60 deaths.
Here we’re going to look at all you need to know about carbon monoxide (CO) including what the symptoms are, and what sensible steps and precautions you can take to avoid potentially deadly emissions in your home.
What is carbon monoxide?
It’s a poisonous and flammable gas that is produced from the incomplete combustion of any fuels that contain carbon such as heating oil, LPG, natural gas, wood, and coal. The most common sources are everyday household appliances such as faulty boilers, gas fires, and cookers.
Also worth mentioning is that carbon monoxide doesn’t just occur in homes. It can occur anywhere that fossil fuels are burnt such as in caravans and motorhomes, in boats and from car exhausts – which is why you should never leave a car running in your garage or any other confined space.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas that is extremely toxic when inhaled – the longer you inhale it the worse your symptoms will be. Often known as the silent killer as it is so difficult to detect, it can pose a very serious threat to you and your family’s safety.
Carbon monoxide is lighter than air – it doesn’t rise or sink but blends into the existing air. When you breathe it in, the gas enters the blood through your lungs, and the poison replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream. This can lead to organs such as your heart and brain becoming starved of oxygen which can, in worse-case scenarios, be fatal.
Whilst everyone is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, certain groups are particularly vulnerable. These include the elderly, people with existing respiratory problems such as angina or asthma, pregnant women and unborn babies, and young children and babies.
Prevention is better than cure – how to avoid
Carbon monoxide can be produced as a result of an incorrectly installed appliance, one that has been badly repaired, or one that has been poorly maintained. Here are some simple things you can do to prevent yourself and your family from poisoning.
Maintain your appliances – regular maintenance including an annual boiler service is key to keeping your appliances running efficiently and safely. We can’t stress this enough!
A faulty boiler can be incredibly dangerous. Whilst LPG is one of the safest and cleanest burning fuels on the market, it is still important to have your boiler serviced each year by a GAS SAFE registered engineer, and for heating oil boilers, by a competent OFTEC registered engineer.
Maintain chimneys and flues – a blocked chimney or flue could increase the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Common suspects include birds' nests, autumn leaves, construction debris from home repairs or renovations, or the masonry chimney itself collapsing inside the top of the chimney. It’s good practice to get into the habit of having your chimney inspected and swept at least once a year, and to regularly clean out ashes and soot from your fireplace.
Ventilate – poor ventilation can contribute to carbon monoxide poisoning as it limits the supply of oxygen so incomplete combustion occurs, and it can also prevent toxic gas from escaping. Ensure vents are not blocked and open windows during and after cooking and in the bathroom when you’ve had a shower. And do not block any ventilators installed in stoves or fires.
Fit an audible alarm – because it’s invisible to the human senses, it’s very important to fit a CO alarm in any home with fuel-burning appliances. In addition, regulations apply to rented properties – all relevant landlords must ensure that there is at least one smoke alarm on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). According to OFTEC, recent research showed that over a third of homeowners hadn’t installed a carbon monoxide alarm, and more than half of those said they didn’t think detectors are important. A worrying statistic!
Carbon monoxide alarms can be purchased from local hardware shops or DIY’s – make sure you purchase one that is approved to the latest British or European Standard (BS Kitemark or EN50291). Alarms are designed to be warning devices only and must not be considered as a substitute for regular, periodic maintenance.
Signs of carbon monoxide
Things to look out for include:
- A yellow flame instead of a blue one, an indicator that your appliance isn’t operating correctly and burning cleanly and efficiently
- Soot and black staining around your appliance
- Unusual odours which may indicate your boiler isn’t burning fuel efficiently
- Excessive condensation in the room in which your boiler is located
- Pilot light changes. If your pilot light frequently extinguishes it could be a sign of incomplete combustion
- Flu-like symptoms
Understand the symptoms
Symptoms are often mistaken for flu-like illnesses. They include nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, tension-type headaches, chest pain, seizures, disorientation, collapse, and loss of consciousness.
What to do if your think you might have carbon monoxide poisoning
Whether you have a heating oil boiler or an LPG one, or a coal fire or wood burning stove, a CO alarm should be present in each area where a potential CO leak may occur. If your alarm sounds, or you or any of your family have any symptoms of CO poisoning, act quickly but stay calm.
Open doors and windows, turn off all fuel-burning appliances, and evacuate the property before calling your gas or fuel supplier on their emergency number.
Get medical advice as soon as possible – and if anyone has collapsed, call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Whilst carbon monoxide poisoning is serious, it is rare, and can be prevented with simple actions, good maintenance, and the installation of carbon monoxide alarms. Remember to test them regularly by pressing the test button, and replace the batteries promptly when the end-of-life signal sounds, or at the very least, once a year.